Bunny Drop Volume 5

If you thought the previous book glossed over too much of Rin’s growing up, you’re going to hate this installment. It opens with a note that we’re now ten years later, so Rin’s a teenager, and Daikichi has changed from caregiver to parent worrying whether she’s ready to start dating.

I admit, I miss the stories of a kid during cute toddler things and her clueless dad/nephew. (Rin is technically Daikichi’s uncle, although he’s over 20 years older than she is.) These stories aren’t quite so special, since there are plenty of manga about quiet, well-mannered teen girls and the nice neighbor boys who get crushes on them. For kids learning about life, the only other series I know is Yotsuba&!

There are some interesting subtleties about how Rin can seem older in her behavior than Daikichi does, but nothing much is made of them. In fact, we don’t see Rin and Daikichi interact as much this book; she spends more of her time with Kouki, the boy next door, or a school friend.I’m sure the incidents and behavior are all authentic, as the kid stories were, but I find less entertainment in watching this period of life. One might imagine that a lot happened in ten years, but all we’re told about is an ex-girlfriend of Kouki’s and why Daikichi never got together with Kouki’s mother.

There are three more volumes to come from Yumi Unita, but I’m not sure I’ll last through them all. (The publisher provided a review copy.)